March 2, 2014: The day in news

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Campaign roundup: Modi hits out at Samajwadi, Mulayam blames him for 2002 riotsUttar Pradesh was the scene of hectic political campaigning Sunday with BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi taking on the ruling Samajwadi Party while Mulayam Singh Yadav in a counter-attack blamed him for the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, who is on a political roadshow in the state, attacked both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and announced he would be going to Gujarat this week to check on the development claims made by chief minister Modi.READ MORE...

Lok Sabha polls likely to begin early April, could be longestThis summer's general elections to constitute the 16th Lok Sabha are likely to be a five-to-six-phase affair starting from the second week of April and ending by mid-May. Maoist-hit areas and some of the warmer states are expected to go to polls first. Election Commission (EC) officials said they were looking at adding one more phase this time to enable adequate security arrangements in the districts affected by Left-wing extremism, Kashmir and the northeast. If that happens, it would be longest-ever Lok Sabha polls.READ MORE...

Pakistan beat India in Asia Cup thriller, virtually knocked outPakistan defeated India by one wicket in a thrilling one-day international in Dhaka on Sunday to virtually knock the reigning World Cup champions out of contention in the Asia Cup. Pakistan, who restricted India to 245-8, survived anxious moments before Shahid Afridi smashed two consecutive sixes to help his team win with two balls to spare at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. India, who have lost two of their three matches, are unlikely to make the March 8 final even if they beat Afghanistan in their last match.READ MORE...

Cabinet says no to ordinance route for anti-graft bills pushed by RahulThe Union cabinet on Sunday rejected the ordinance route to clear some anti-graft legislations being pushed by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. The cabinet, however, cleared Jat reservation. Earlier in the day, the CPI (M) wrote to President Pranab Mukherjee, saying the ordinance route amounted to an anti-democratic and partisan exercise. READ MORE...

Ukraine mobilises after Putin's 'declaration of war'Ukraine mobilised for war on Sunday and Washington threatened to isolate Russia economically, after President Vladimir Putin declared he had the right to invade his neighbour, creating Moscow's biggest confrontation with the West since the Cold War.READ MORE...